Can I get a cortisone shot in affected arm?

BB, the pain itself is a problem for your LE, because pain draws extra lymph fluid to the area. If you've tried other alternatives (PT, simple support with a brace) and still have no relief, then it's reasonable to consider the cortisone shot. You might want to review the guidelines for surgery and other procedures on an arm with LE. They're here:

http://www.stepup-speakout.org/Emergencies_and_Med...

There are other women here who have done this, and I hope they'll be along soon to share their experiences. Be well!
Binney

Hi BayouBabe,

I don't have LE but I did have a cortisone shot in my right shoulder last September (had BMX Oct 2012 and right SNB Aug 2012). Conservative treatment wasn't helping and I couldn't raise my arm at all if my elbow was bent. The shot worked wonders but the pain started up again last month and now is much worse than before. No sign of LE so far. I don't know if this helps but you weren't getting a lot of responses so I thought I'd chime in. 

Hello ladies,

I have a similar dilemma about whether to have a steroid injection or not.

Since breast surgery and radiotherapy at the end of last year, I have got Shoulder Impingement Syndrome and Rotator Cuff Tendonitis.  I cannot take anti-inflammatories or strong painkillers to help relieve the painful symptoms.  My arm movement is restricted due to the pain and stiffness.

My GP has recommended a steroid injection in my shoulder joint but I am very frightened of getting Lymphoedema.  I know I would find it very difficult to 'live with' Lymphoedema if I was unlucky to get it.

I had two sentinel lymph nodes removed (both clear) and a lumpectomy.

I am feeling very stressed at the moment because the constant pain in my shoulder joint and top of my arm is getting me down.  I am having to dress a different way because I cannot move my left arm up my back to fasten my bra or place my arm in a certain position.

Normally, I would not have hesitated to have a steroid injection, but now my lymphatic drainage system has been compromised from breast surgery, I am scared to have an injection in my shoulder joint because I do not want to develop Lymphoedema.  However, I am also very concerned that my shoulder joint pain and movement will get much worse if I do nothing.

Thanks to the ladies who have posted helpful information.

Peace and Positivity,

M 

Hello Carol,

Thank you very much for replying. I was really impressed by your knowledge when I read your helpful posts about Lymphoedema therefore it is lovely that you have responded.

I am so frightened about getting Lymphoedema.  I didn't even know what it was until I went to a Lymphoedema class after my breast surgery.  In fact, I never gave a thought to my Lymphatic System and how it operated.

What a steep learning curve I have been on since my cancer diagnosis!!!

Thank you for telling me about the stress signal sent out when in continuous pain.  I didn't know this or the fact that this can also impact on the lymphatic system.  Something else I have learnt today.

Since my first post, I have spoken to my GP and a physio at the hospital today.  I have an appointment to see both of them this Thursday to discuss my shoulder joint impingement/rotator cuff tendinitis and my concerns about Lymphoedema.

From my discussion with them today, the medical consensus seems to be that a one-off steroid injection into soft tissue within a confined space inside the shoulder joint is less likely to compromise the lymphatic system than injections into the vein, mosquito bites etc. The latter are more risky because the extra fluid or potential disease circulates around the body in the blood stream.

I am beginning to get my head around risks versus benefits of a steroid injection and the fact that the extra fluid will be contained inside my shoulder joint.

The hospital was unable to put me in touch with a Lymphoedema specialist.  Maybe this is because I do not actually have Lymphoedema.  I will follow this up again when I see the physiotherapist on Thursday.

Carol, now you have also made me aware of the stress signal and lymph implications, it has helped me to realise that a one-off injection is likely to be the best option.

I think if I do not have an injection, my symptoms and constant pain are likely to get worse and my arm movement will not improve.

Hopefully, when I have seen my GP and the physiotherapist on Thursday, I will be able to make an informed decision about a steroid injection and get my fear of Lymphoedema into perspective.

Thanks again.

Peace and Positivity,

M

MM, whatever I know about LE came from my own quest to understand this condition that is so poorly explained to us, despite how common it is after BC treatments. I learned so much, just when I needed the information, from other forum members such as Binney, Kira, LindaLou and others. It seems we help each other the most by pooling our information, and I'm glad to contribute when I can. I'm glad you'll be seeing the physio, and I hope you'll be candid with him or her in asking about experience with LE. 

Here in the US some of our LE community have had unfortunate experiences with PTs who have no LE training. For example, using therabands (resistance elastic bands) is standard therapy for lots of injuries, but they're generally not a good idea for LE patients (or those at risk, many believe) because it's not possible to measure the amount of resistance and increase it slowly in small increments. A PT who is also trained in LE would find other ways to add resistance, such as low-weight dumbbells or weight machines set to very low resistance. Or at least work with the patient to be incredibly aware of the need to add resistance very cautiously and slowly.

Good luck on Thursday and let us know how the meeting goes. 

Carol

MM, that's a great and reassuring report!  Please let us know how you feel in the week to come, when hopefully you'll get increasing benefits from the intervention and from the exercises you're doing.  You did all that you could to seek care while minimizing LE risks.  That's a major accomplishment.

Magical, Keep us posted. That pain is so wicked I do understand getting the shot. This last time around (it has flared twice now since the mastectomy) I took Celebrex for 10 days and began physical therapy on the 8th day...I have relief for now.

Hello Crystalphm,

I agree the pain is terrible.  I have always thought I had a high threshold of pain having had to deal with severe headaches and migraines most of my life.  However, this shoulder joint pain has really got to me but maybe it is because my body is still recovering from my recent operation and radiotherapy.

I can't take oral anti-inflammatories or high strength codeine so my options are limited to relieving severe pain.

Pleased to hear you have got some relief now.

I've been able to do some of the physio exercises since the injection.  Rolling my shoulder, pendulum swings forwards/backwards, left/right and drawing an imaginary circle are all OK.  But I cannot do the overhead arm raise or put my arm up my back.  These exercises cause excruciating pain so I have decided not to do them until I see the physio again this Friday.

Rang my GP to check that I was right to avoid the very painful exercises and he agreed.  

Wishing you a good recovery.

Peace and Positivity,

M

Hello from UK,

Two and half weeks since I had my steroid injection for shoulder impingement pain.  Thought I would post an update about my progress.

After much anxiety about having the injection (due to my fear of developing LE), I am now glad I went ahead.  The injection really helped to relieve a lot of the pain and inflammation to enable me to start doing physiotherapy exercises.  I have had two appointments so far with the Physio at the hospital and continue with the exercises at home.

At the first appointment, I was shown a number of shoulder/arm exercises and particularly liked using a shoulder rope pulley so I purchased one at the hospital shop to use at home.

At second appointment, my Physio was pleased with the increase in movement I had achieved in the space of two weeks especially the 'arm up my back' exercise.  Still some way to go before I will be able to fasten my bra behind my back again but I am happy that I am beginning to see improvements in my arm movement.

Peace and Positivity,

M xxx

Thanks Crystalphm.

The steroid injection was certainly a turning point for relieving the constant pain which drained my energy and got me down.

Feeling much more positive now.

Yesterday I got a cortisone shot in the base of my thumb.  I have severe trigger thumb on my BC side, probably from AI meds for two years and/or taxol.  Was also having pain in my other thumb.  I waited five months to see if it would go away.  Not.

I have very mild LE and it was surfacing in my thumb and broader area even though it had never been below my elbow.  I was also in a lot of pain and had lost most of the function in the thumb.  So I took a chance on infection and expanding LE and had the shot.  Wow!  Instant relief with the injected pain medication and today pain is so much better.  Still triggering though.  Amazing how willing we are to tolerate severe pain in this journey.   

It's now been two weeks since getting a cortisone shot  for trigger thumb on my LE side.  I no longer have pain, which had gotten pretty much unbearable.  There is still a little triggering, but the swelling is almost totally gone.

The best is that the shot didn't result in an infection or LE elsewhere.  

wow, bayou! that sounds so cool! i want one! i did finally have a cortisone shot into the base of my thimb several mos back, and so far so good. it was LE side too, so i was frightened of worsening LE, but it was fine! he told me i could have two more shots, but i dont think so! it hurt very bad, even with that freezing spray, thats just topical, isnt it? that shot hurt  like the muffer! me, at least. i only got le in my hand, when i would over do, and before i got proper sleeves and gloves. now almost never, but i am so glad my thumb is better. but i am developing probs with my shoulder now, ca side.... sigh..

Dear PITA2015, Welcome to the community. We are sorry to hear about your shoulder pain and so glad that your reached out here. We notice that this particular thread has been inactive since April of 2014. You could consider sending the member a Private Message to learn more or you can also start a new topic that might gain some response and renew the activity on this subject. Let us know if you need help. The Mods

Dear PITA2015, Go to the Lymphedema Forum if that is the topic that interests you. At the top of the page you will see a red button that says Start a New Topic. You might want to browse the forums and find what fits for you. Perhaps you can raise a question in the new topic. The Mods